Friday 18 / July / 2025
Muscat: Special “cities” for around 40,000 workers will be set up across Oman in a span of two years as part of efforts to provide accommodation to blue collar workers in the country.
The main concept of these cities is not only focused on providing accommodation, but to also function as entertainment areas for foreign workers.
Speaking to Times of Oman, Dr. Khalid Al Matani, Chairman of BBH Group, who launched the first Logistics City for workers in the Rusayl Industrial area in Muscat on Monday, said that they are planning to expand this concept to other areas.
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“The launch of the first integrated city in Muscat is just the beginning, and we are planning to expand it to Sohar, Salalah and Duqm in the next two years. All these four cities will house around 10,000 foreign workers each,” Al Matani said.
He also said that he has been planning to establish this project for a long time for the well-being of the expat labour force in Oman.
“I have been working extremely hard towards this initiative and it took me about 11 months to complete the first phase of the Logistics City that can house up to 4,500 workers. We have built 850 rooms that are further divided into 12 buildings, each containing 77 rooms on three levels. Every floor has its separate dining area that can accommodate over 35 people where they can relax, and watch television and movies as well,” Al Matani added.
He added that the group has built around 24 multipurpose warehouses to provide a mini-mall, administrative offices, and other amenities in the area.
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“We have managed to build and arrange everything that is required for comfortable living including (a) mini-mall, pharmacy, coffee shops, clinic, exchange house, among others, so that these workers don’t have to travel far. The main idea is to provide a healthy environment for these workers, as they are humans and require all the basic facilities from comfortable living to entertainment and much more. I have a strong belief that if we provide them with this kind of environment, they will be more productive at work and perform better,” Al Matani said.
He explained that phase two will be an extension of the existing accommodation area and will house up to 10,000 workers next year.
Located on the expressway and connected to roads leading to Sur and Nizwa, the Chairman of the Group said Logistics City will add value to the location, while connecting different cities in Oman. To make commuting easier, the Group has also paved roads that are 20 metres wide within the vicinity.
Mohammed Zaeem, General Secretary of Pakistan Social Club Oman, said that it is a great approach by BBH Group.
“It’s a good approach to accommodate the labour workforce in one area with recreational and entertainment facilities. It will help industries to overcome labour transportation issues and will ultimately ease traffic flow. Moreover, time will be saved by reducing the commuting burden.”
Zaeem added that “establishing the entertainment area is indicative of basic human rights and providing the best possible services”.
In 2017, the Municipality had announced that it is building separate complexes to accommodate unmarried expatriates living in Oman, and three large plots of land were identified in Bausher, Amerat and Mabella.
